For me, it begins with this:
and continues with this: (below the fold)
Peggy Noonan (10/17/08) writes:
But we have seen Mrs. Palin on the national stage for seven weeks now, and there is little sign that she has the tools, the equipment, the knowledge or the philosophical grounding one hopes for, and expects, in a holder of high office. She is a person of great ambition, but the question remains: What is the purpose of the ambition? She wants to rise, but what for? For seven weeks I've listened to her, trying to understand if she is Bushian or Reaganite—a spender, to speak briefly, whose political decisions seem untethered to a political philosophy, and whose foreign policy is shaped by a certain emotionalism, or a conservative whose principles are rooted in philosophy, and whose foreign policy leans more toward what might be called romantic realism, and that is speak truth, know America, be America, move diplomatically, respect public opinion, and move within an awareness and appreciation of reality.
But it's unclear whether she is Bushian or Reaganite. She doesn't think aloud. She just . . . says things.
Noonan further adds
No news conferences? Interviews now only with friendly journalists? You can't be president or vice president and govern in that style, as a sequestered figure. This has been Mr. Bush's style the past few years, and see where it got us. You must address America in its entirety, not as a sliver or a series of slivers but as a full and whole entity, a great nation trying to hold together. When you don't, when you play only to your little piece, you contribute to its fracturing.
There is a sisterhood among women that extends far beyond political party, for many of us. I applaud my conservative sisters whose ideology I disagree with, but whose integrity I can wholeheartedly embrace!
It is a national DISGRACE that the MSM has been lax in covering Palin and the reported 'skills' she brings with her to office. They've done little to confront Gov. Palin on her 'success' as a small town mayor (leaving that small town with a 20 million dollar debt after inheriting a surplus). They fail to correct the party flacks who discuss the "80%" approval rating in Alaska that's long since fallen.
Wasilla rape victims were required to pay for their own rape kits, because the town couldn't afford them, but Gov. Palin (then mayor) had no problem raising taxes in order to fund the building a hockey rink. SILENCE from most media sources.
Hopefully, with women leading the way, the media will find its courage and being to ask the questions it should have been openly asking weeks ago. If the media wants to continue to defend its position as the 'guardians' of freedom, it had better STOP covering Palin events until she's held accountable to the AMERICAN PUBLIC, and not just her party's base. Those who plan to cast their votes on Nov. 4th deserve to hear either from Gov. Palin, or the media, what and who they're voting for.
The public deserves to hear from Sen. McCain why his staffers treat Gov. Palin as 'hired help' and not as a full member of his team. It only adds to the obvious concerns about her selection as a running mate, that she wasn't hired for her skill, but for her gender.
The American media has treated this election too much as a string of tabloid stories. They gladly report and air McCain-Palin's false attacks on Sen. Obama. They fearfully cower when it comes to reporting the truth about Palin. It's a dark day in American journalistic history.